SOLVED. YA Fantasy. Female protagonist on quest/ journey. Man who can turn into a bird, he can't set foot on holy grounds or his feet are burned. Set in historical Far East or a land influenced by it Read 2004-2007. [s]

[Katie]

I read a book in middle school (2004-2007) that I’ve been trying to remember the name of since. It was a ya novel I believe, set in a either the historic Far East or a land influenced by it. The main female character needed to complete a journey or quest and somehow got involved with a man who can turn into a bird. The man can’t set foot on holy ground or he’s burned. I think at some point she encounters two water dragons but I may be confusing with another book. The clearest memory from the book is that the man can become a bird and burns his feet touching holy ground.

Possible spoilers:



At some point he does step foot on holy ground for the girl I think and burns his feet.
I believe they at one point sleep together in a cave

[Kris]

Katie, please post a new comment if you're still looking for this book - or if you found it.

Katie (OP) last posted in the group in May 2019. Moving to Abandoned folder.

[Katie]

Monitoring again

[Kris]

Thanks for the update, Katie. I copied book details to the topic header. Feel free to edit it.

Can you tell us more about the female protagonist - e.g., her age, special skills or powers, etc.?

[Katie]

Late teens/ early 20s, I don't remember her actually having any powers, I think maybe someone died and she inherited an ignored quest, I think she was meant to deliver something others wanted to safety but am not 100% on that. Her companion has powers but joined originally out of convenience/necessity and they have an antagonistic relationship to start that grows and is solidified when he rescues her on holy ground causing himself injury, retreat to a hidden cave to recover and confess feelings and have .5 peppers spicy time, and I think that's like 50% - 75% into the book, pre water dragons who give sage counsel allowing them to progress on their quest.

[Katie]

Also fairly certain she was east Asian and the book takes place in a fantasy world inspired by chinese culture and mythology, I think cover had her with long black hair. Fairly sure it was older when I read it, so likely published in the 80s or 90s.

[Becca]

I think I may have found this one! Little Sister by Kara Dalkey came up when I searched 'holy ground' and 'into a bird' on archive.org. It's set in 12th-century Japan.

"Goranu?" I said. And then, with a shock, I understood. He is a demon. It will harm him to walk on holy ground.

Goranu screamed and jumped into the air. With a loud bang, just above our heads he turned into a bird. He flew low over the amazed pilgrims on the stairs. Then he disappeared into a pine grove far down the hill.

https://archive.org/details/littlesis...

[Kris]

Google Books has a snippet preview of Little Sister by Kara Dalkey - Becca's suggestion. You might get lucky searching for keywords:

- https://books.google.com/books?id=FUC...

Quote from the book:
- "... your soul was damned because ... "
His words only made me weep more. His feet were so (Mod: I think it says...) burned and smoked and bleeding... "

[Katie]

I think this might be it!!

[Becca]

Katie wrote: "I think this might be it!!"

Can we file it as solved or do you need more time to be sure it's the one?

[Katie]

I can't find a place to read it but I'm 98% sure it's the one so I think we can solve it:)

[SamSpayedPI]

Katie wrote: "I can't find a place to read it but I'm 98% sure it's the one so I think we can solve it:)"

It's available at the Internet Archive (link at the bottom of Becca's October 3 comment). You need to be a member to borrow books, but membership is free; you only need to give them an email address.

It's also in Open Library: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL15837...

[Capn]

SamSpayedPI wrote: "Katie wrote: "I can't find a place to read it but I'm 98% sure it's the one so I think we can solve it:)"

It's available at the Internet Archive (link at the bottom of Becca's October 3 comment). ..."

fwiw - I cannot recommend opening an Archive.org/OpenLibrary account strongly enough. ;) It's really, really useful. And free.

[Katie]

Amazing! I think when I was looking there the headphones threw me off and I thought it was audio only :)